The Rabbit

In my neighborhood, I usually see a family of wild rabbits with bushy white tails. They're harmless and pretty, but they hop quickly. As I studied the pace of their movements, I remembered that in the sport of Track and Field, if you want the field to go faster than intended, there's usually a rabbit in the race. The rabbit's role is to set the pace for the field, but the rabbit does not complete the race. He merely ensures that the others running are doing what they're supposed to do so that when he drops out, the remaining runners have the momentum to keep going.


According to Runners World, in distances as short as the 800 meters and as long as the marathon, the

Book Review - Americanah & Crossing the Lines

Sometimes no matter how much we plan, things don't go as expected. In the midst of planning a wedding which by the way is going well, we've had some unexpected turn of events all related to our health. My husband has a nagging knee injury that required an MRI and my Little One suffered a third-degree burn. And life goes on.
So while working and waiting, I read. I'm reading my Bible and completing a Bible Study but I also read whatever interests me.

One of my newest favorite authors is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her most recent novel is Americanah which lived up to all of its positive reviews. Americanah captured all of my senses. I read it with awe not just at the storyline but at the way, the sentences were constructed and thoughts were developed. This is a confident writer who has no problem sharing her world, or her heritage with the reader. It's shared as common knowledge though it is new to many who are reading.
The story of our two protagonists - Ifemelu and Obinze starts off in Nigeria and winds its way through London, various cities on the East Coast of America and then back to Nigeria.
In mainstream culture - one would say they were high school sweethearts whose paths diverged and then they finally come back together. But in the Nigerian and African American cultures, this is so much more colorful. There are cultural norms associated with immigrating and then returning home - hence the name Americanah - a Nigerian slang term for someone returning from America pronounced with a heavy emphasis on the last syllable.
There's the plight of being undocumented while trying to maintain your dignity and make a living. There's getting to know others who are not like you and falling in love. There is losing yourself in love, yet trying to find out who you really are. There's a discovery of your race and what it means in other countries outside of your own; discovering you weren't black until you came to America. Then there's coming home and how it makes you feel whole again.
Through the eyes of Ifemelu and Obinze, we experience all of these things while we receive a sociology lesson on various cultures. This is pleasurable reading.

Then recently I read Crossing the Lines: A Novel by Richard Doster. This book caught me by surprise in a good way. I don't know why I downloaded it to my Kindle but I'm glad I did. Have you ever thought about the Civil Rights movement through the eyes of a white sports reporter who really loves the South but hates its portrayal to the entire world, while figuring out where he fits and how he feels based on his Christian faith? Those are the intersections that are explored in this book in a believable and entertaining fashion.

As a sports reporter, Josh Hall takes a stand on the integration of baseball and his family suffers for it. As they attempt to rebuild, he is presented with new professional opportunities that have him interviewing leaders of the Civil Rights Movement - Martin Luther King, in Montgomery Alabama and Arkansas. The book humanizes the bus boycott and the integration of Central High. While all of this is happening, we are also introduced to the genius behind the musicians B.B. King and Elvis Presley. We see how race impacted the music of the times and how we came to have the Blues and Rock and Roll.
The book is set in Atlanta, in a suburb, where Hall's local church also struggles with how to deal with integration. The struggle is for the "Beloved Community" that MLK envisioned and the one vs the exclusionary status quo.
This book is a lesson on race in America, with some of the ugliness removed.





--Nylse

Thanks for reading. Please take a moment to share using the buttons below and also please like my Facebook Page. Stay Encouraged!

An Ode to Love

America has been mesmerized by the display of love from the Obamas; not just from Barack to Michelle, but the entire family. It's almost as if there's an element of surprise that such a love exists because these bodies are wrapped in brown skin; as if love was the exclusive domain of those who are not brown.

Most of the images in mainstream media do not show or celebrate black couples in love. If they do, it's that we are oversexed or aggressive but nothing that's normal like the Obamas. In the mainstream view of a Black man - he is a thug, he is aggressive, he is a gangster, he is cocky. He is often vilified. He is never portrayed like Barack Obama - smart, confident, helpful and a family man with a smart woman by his side - Michelle. She was confident, yet not seeking out the spotlight. I distinctly remember when Barack told everyone, "you know, I have a wife." It implied - we're together, a team, a partnership, a package deal. It's so rare, this demonstration of "Black Love" that when they make it to the White House, you may think that seeing their expressions of love is a new thing; that it was unique to them.

But love will do that. If you love someone it is a natural progression to expressing that love - everyone does this. You love your husband - you're considerate of his feelings; you rub his back. You love your wife - you're considerate of her feelings and your hand has a special place in the small of her back. You love your kids - you play with them and you hold them. Affection leads to expression naturally. You make each other smile. You like each other's company. There's no pretense - it just is. It doesn't mean that every day is a good day but simply you're in a relationship with each other. Why hang around if you don't care, if it doesn't matter? It's not abnormal to love the one you're with.

My daughter is getting married later this year. Within the wedding industry, just looking at pictures for photographers, venues, dresses or accessories you would be hard pressed to believe that folks that look like me get married. I was searching for a flower girl dress. I have yet to find a picture of a little black girl in a flower girl dress. It is maddening yet a reality. These images shape a perception that black love looks different from the mainstream. It doesn't; the only difference is our skin color.

I have enjoyed watching the Obamas these past 8 years because though he occupied the highest position in the land the display of their love for each other was normal. They genuinely like each other and it shows. I hope they have dispelled the notion of "Black Love" or any color of love since love is universal; when you love someone, have seen them in good times and bad, support their dreams, have a common goal in seeing the best for your family - it will show. It may look different for each of us, but it will be on display as evidence of the relationship.

As they bade America farewell they were holding hands; then they looked at each other smiled and swung their hands with all the glee in the world, as if to say, "we did it!" That's love.

Unexpected Victories

Keni Harrison was a shoo-in to make the 100m hurdle Olympic team. She had the fastest time coming in and was considered the favorite. But something fell apart that day and she did not make it to Rio; her Olympic dreams were dashed.

Two weeks later she ran in London at a Diamond league track meet. She was poetry in motion and broke a world record that had stood for 28 years.

Initially, she was not aware, as there seemed to be a malfunction with the clock. But then one of her competitors nudged her to look at what she had just accomplished and we see the most amazing reaction.

This reaction reminds me of the following:
Know your standards - Every competitor knows the standards for their sport. Even if you're not a world-class athlete, you have measurable goals that you are trying to reach. Because it is only in pushing ourselves that we recognize how strong we really are. Her competitor, Nia Ali, pointed it out first because she recognized what she had been a part of.

Shared joy - all the individuals in that race knew the standards; they all knew what the WR was. Nia Ali noticed it first and with a smile on her face told her to look at the clock. The smiles and the hug; we all want that when we achieve. But also notice that the other competitors are clapping and congratulating her.

Getting back up - she could have quit, but she didn't. She continued to run, pushing herself in the process. As my devotional reminded me today - "Many winners have reached success by climbing a special ladder called “never give up.” However, there are also many who have lost the opportunity to achieve success because they gave up too soon. This can happen in every area of life: family, education, friends, work, service. Perseverance is a key to victory."

Relief and glee - she went into every race after the trials knowing that she had it in her to break the WR. The Olympic Trials was an unfortunate fluke. So she kept running. That reaction is priceless. Unbelievable joy at achieving a major goal.

The Christian life has all of these characteristics. As a believer, we know our standard - Christ. The goal is to always live like Christ. We keep trying because when we do it is worth it. We're not in this race alone - He has given us a comforter, the Holy Spirit that we can tap into and we have each other. Be the Nia Ali who points out what your sister just did. Rejoice with her in victory and weep with her in sadness.

Every successful person climbs a ladder called "Never Give Up." The victories may not come when we expect them to but they will surely come if we stay focused and keep our eyes fixed on Christ. I can only imagine that when I get to heaven, I may have the same reaction, especially after hearing "well done, good and faithful servant.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 

2 Timothy 4:7-8[NLT]

What keeps you going when things don't work out as you think they should?

Poetry in Motion - in case you missed it.

Tony Evans - A Biblical Response on Race

This is a hard-hitting yet comforting message that is much needed today. The passages used are: the woman at the well, Peter's vision, and Paul confronting Peter.










Key points

• Your theology determines how you respond; it is the most important thing.
• God made us all - in his image.
• Where we are today requires a Godly response.
• When men and women of God are quiet, our impact is minimized and the culture goes crazy. He says it like this - "A mist in the pulpit, is a fog in the pew."
• Racism is a sin; sin can make a good person bad.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

The 4 Stages of Reconciliation

As Christians, we have a ministry of reconciliation that imitates Christ's reconciliation for us. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 18 - we become new people in Christ; as a result of becoming a new creation, we are given the ministry of reconciliation which allows us to be reconcilers.

Being able to reconcile is something that is much needed in our culture for to reconcile is to restore harmony and cohesiveness; to be able to coexist. In our broader culture, we are bombarded with schism and friction, there is racial inequity and animosity. The climate is ripe for retaliation. This is not the recipe for reconciliation.

Brenda Salter McNeil has written on The 4 Stages of Reconciliation; she is a minister who travels the nation and speaks on racial reconciliation to a variety of audiences. She is first and foremost a Christian who noticed this racial divide in her life.

1. Realization - An awareness that there is a grievance. An acknowledgment that there is a problem.
2. Identification - Empathizing and understanding the aggrieved.
3. Preparation - What are you prepared to do to reconcile? Are you prepared to go the distance towards reconciliation?
4. Activation - The action(s) that are necessary for change. Putting in the effort and the work to make the change

These steps were identified as steps for racial reconciliation as it relates to institutions, but they are applicable for reconciliation in general.

Hard things are hard and reconciliation of any sort is hard. As reconcilers, we are imitating Christ - which means we'll get close to perfect but we're going to fail. In our own strength, we can't remove the barriers. We will get tired of fighting the good fight. We will be traumatized by all that we see happening around us. 

But before we deal with society, let's start with our homes and our relationships. Let's be reconciled with each other.  Then let's spread it to our communities until we are impacting the world. Oftentimes when there is a need for reconciliation there is a perception that one side is right and therefore the other side is wrong. Reconciliation says - we're both right; now where do we go from here. The purpose of reconciliation is to bring others to Christ. By being a vessel of reconciliation, others will see something different in us and want what we have. 

As believers, each one of us can allow Christ's spirit within us to give us the power to be reconcilers. It's like a tree with concentric circles - our ministry impacts those closest to us and spreads to have a broad impact.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.... 2 Corinthians 5:17, 18 [KJV]

When there is a breach, how do you reconcile? Do you use any of the steps above? Are you trying to affect change in society?

It's Monday - this post is inspired by what I heard on Sunday!!!!

On Being Who You Are

Source

I try to be mature and Christ-like in my interactions when dealing with people but it has always bothered me when people try to placate themselves and make a statement like I don't see color when I see you.

I walk away ferklempt because my skin color is part of who I am, but it is not the totality of me. It just happens to be the wrapping to this beautiful present that is me. When I get a gift, I don't say or think it doesn't matter the wrapping it's what's inside that's important. While that may be true as it relates to the gift, there are some gifts that are as elaborate and worthwhile as the gift itself. The wrapping is just as important as the gift, and you can't get to the gift before you deal with the wrapping.

My skin color is a part of me. I am Black and I don't have a problem with that, however in America, this is a country that has had a problem with my skin color. History shows it and present times display the bias that still exists. Every time I hear Black Lives Matter and the response is  All Lives Matter or White Lives Matter all I want to say is Black Live Matter Also - that's it.  When everyone regardless of race is treated equally we won't need to say, Black Lives Matter. The reality is BLM came about because of how Black people are treated in their interactions with the police. There is nothing that indicates that Black Men are more prone to lead a life of crime or are more dangerous than any other group of men - i.e. they're not born with a criminal gene or a savage gene, but that is the script that is replayed over and over in America.

I'm not trying to go into a societal discourse in this post, but there is a weight to being Black in America and if one isn't careful they could go crazy (BTW there are studies that support this). I take comfort in the fact that God made me and He knew exactly what he was doing when He made me. He looked at me and said, "this is good." This blessing from the Highest is what gives me confidence in my daily interactions. Regardless of what you think, I am worthy and will carry myself as such. I will not believe the script that plays out in this world but will believe what the Word tells me.

Black or white, you are worthy. If you're Black, I know it gets tiresome dealing with racism that is inherent in our culture; attempting to rationalize someone's negative behavior that has no basis in your reality; checking to ensure that you're not crazy; being called a derogatory racial slur because someone is angry....sometimes it's all too much. But we are not meant to carry this weight alone, so don't. Talk to trusted persons in your life, and pray for the wisdom to know how to act and deal with this in your life. After you've prayed, use the Bible as your guide for your actions and then have the courage to act. This is not a quick solution but a life long process.

I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem—

dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents. Song of Solomon 1:5 [NLT]

There is no longer Jew or Gentile,[a] slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 [NLT]

Black is beautiful.

It Ain't Over!

"It ain't over until God says over; it ain't over until God says it's done.  Keep fighting until the victory is won."

This song has gotten me through so many runs because when I think of the goodness, power, majesty, mercy of God and all of His other attributes, combined with a catchy melody I am able to run farther and faster. This song combined with other Gospel songs is the reason why I look forward to running - the music literally moves me and I feel like I am worshipping God as I run. I am worshipping God as I run. Running this Christian race will make you better; a better person yielding more spiritual fruit.

I didn't intend to become a runner, but
"Something Happens" to me when I hear the name of Jesus.

As I'm "Encouraging Myself", I reflect on scripture on where I am and where He's brought me from.

As I "Work It Out" physically, I see the correlation spiritually.

These songs are all over 5 minutes and some are as long as 7 minutes; that's a worthwhile goal - completing a mile before 2 songs are over.

Before you know it, you'll find yourself soaring spiritually and physically. Or maybe that's just me.

Here are some of my other favorites from my Pandora station:

• I Got The Victory - Tye Tribbett
• Jesus Can Work it out - various gospel artists
• The Blessing of Abraham - Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City Singers
• The Presence of The Lord is Here - Byron Cage
• We Lift Our Hands In the Sanctuary - Kurt Carr
• Lord, You are Good (live) - Israel Houghton
• Faithful is our God - Hezekiah Walker
• I will Bless The Lord (live) - Byron cage. 
• I'm Grateful (the reprise) - Hezekiah Walker
• Praise Him In Advance - Marvin Sapp. 
• I Smile - Kirk Franklin

"It Ain't Over"

I know the odds look stacked against you

And it seems there's no way out

I know the issue seems unchangeable

And that there's no reason to shout

But the impossible is God's chance

To work a miracle, a miracle

So just know

It ain't over until God says it's over

It ain't over until God says it's done

It ain't over until God says it's over

Keep fighting until your victory is won

He never said it would be easy

But you're a winner in the end

Jesus defeated all your enemies

Way before the fight began

But the impossible is God's chance

To work a miracle, a miracle

So just know

It ain't over until God says it's over

It ain't over until God says it's done

It ain't over until God says it's over

Keep fighting until your victory is won

When people say you can't, remember

(He can, He will)

When you don't know what you're gonna do,

Please remember

(He has the master plan)

He will free you from your sin

And give you peace within

So you better hold your head up high

You're gonna win

(You're gonna win)

It ain't over until God says it's over

It ain't over until God says it's done

It ain't over until God says it's over

Keep fighting until your victory is won

Keep fighting, keep praying, keep fasting

It ain't over, no

Keep pressing, progressing, keep moving

It ain't over, no

Keep reading, interceding, keep believing

It ain't over, no

Keep trusting, keep trying, keep travailing

It ain't over, no

Keep living, keep giving, keep going

It ain't over, no

Keep fighting until your victory is won

Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30 [NLT]

How does music help you? 

Why The Atlanta Educators Cheating Case Bothers Me

Source

I have more than a passing interest in Education. As a parent I always want to ensure that I can provide the best education for my children in conjunction with anything I do at home. Professionally I consult for charter schools. I have a Masters in Educational Administration and Policy Studies, and I've worked in school districts in an administrative capacity, primarily as a consultant, so I'm familiar with the ins and outs of school administration. Lastly, I am acutely familiar with cheating in school districts, as at one point I had to speak out on this issue.

Briefly, this article summarizes the main points but it was an investigative reporter for the Atlanta Journal Constitution - Heather Vogell who first uncovered the irregularities in the testing data. Vogell noted, several schools statewide had changed in status between the spring 2008 administration of the test and the summer retest in 2008, going from not meeting AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) rates, a calculation set by federal legislation that determines the fates of individual schools, to meeting the measure. A lot more schools had met AYP than was expected - it was a larger shift. Upon further investigation she found a handful of schools had increased their performance so much more than they had been expected to that it raised questions over whether educators had intervened in the testing process. She published her first story in December 2008, highlighting schools where the gains seemed astronomical. See full article here. Making AYP matters more if you are receiving Title 1 funds.

This case has a lot of underlying implications, the chief one being that children in high need school districts or schools with low SES (socio-economic status),  can not do well on standardized tests without assistance. If they do, the scores need to be examined closer. High need usually equates to low academic performance, but this is not always the case.

This case abdicates parents of all responsibility in their child's education and places the entire blame on the teachers, principals, administrators and the school district.  How is it possible that you did not know your child could not read until you are moved to another school district and they are held back? Besides the state tests, were they no other indicators that a child was not progressing as he/she should? Why is the state test ranked as the holy grail of all tests, when the reality is it isn't?

There's the underlying theme of race - any article that I've ever read on this case always mentions the race of the defendants and SES of the schools involved. From the LA Times when referring to the defendants, "all African Americans who worked in low-income neighborhoods." All of the educators were black, the prosecutor and his staff were primarily black, the affected schools and students were primarily black, the judge was white and the primary defense attorney was white.

This case was handled in the manner it was because of money - for the defendants and the schools. One of the prosecutor's points was that if cheating had not occurred more federal funds for remediation could have been funneled to the school district. I'm not sure exactly what this statement means because if a school makes AYP, it receives Title 1 Funding. He may have been referring to other monetary sources. Be that as it may, the real question is: do these funds change the student's performance or is a poor district just a cash cow? Per pupil spending in high need school districts rivals those in high SES school districts, yet their performance is better.

It's not just about the money but this was grounds for this case.  Significant money is spent every year on education in this country.

• The United States spent $553 billion on public elementary and secondary Education in 2006-2007,[4] which is 4.2 percent of gross domestic product.[5]
• In 2007, the federal government spent $71.7 billion on elementary and secondary Education programs. These funds were spent by 13 federal departments and multiple agencies. The Department of Education spent $39.2 billion on K-12 education. The largest programs in the Department of Education's elementary and secondary budget were "Education for the disadvantaged" ($14.8 billion) and "Special Education" ($11.5 billion).[9]

One of the warped messages from this case is: failure equals more money; let the children fail; let's maintain the status quo.

In Georgia - PPS (per pupil spending) for 2012 is ~9300. More recent data provides a better breakdown of what actually goes in PPS, and this article provides a breakdown on where the money goes and how it is spent.

Source

It's about the children. Supposedly because of the educators' role, these children are damaged for life.
It was always about the children but their lives aren't damaged because of the outcome of one annual state standardized test. Children don't learn in a vacuum - learning is a process, a life long one, with multiple assessments along the way to assess if you are processing the information. Even if they didn't learn the first time around, they are multiple opportunities available to them for learning and achieving. Again, why is a state test the only assessment that matters? When did a standardized state test become the arbiter for learning?

There is a culture of cheating and high stakes testing. It is acknowledged that there is a culture of cheating in schools that has increased with the onset of State Standardized Testing. This case highlighted what many educators say is the mounting pressure to meet testing targets in the data-driven era of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. In Atlanta as in many other school districts, performance was tied to how well students scored on standardized tests. They were bonuses if goals were met and penalties if they were not.  In addition, this is not an environment the Superintendent created in Atlanta, but one that she too had to abide by. The Superintendent in the Atlanta case died and it's not clear if racketeering was ever proved. Under the racketeering law, because this all happened under her watch, if she were tried and found guilty, she could have been sentenced to 45 years in jail.

Conclusion
Cheating is wrong. When children cheat in school they are consequences but none so severe that they can not resume their lives for twenty years. When adults cheat on behalf of the children, there should also be consequences but none so severe that they can not resume their lives for twenty years. When race, class and academic achievement intersect, it's a firestorm that our justice system can not handle.
The sad reality is that this is a no win situation.

Additional resources:
Did Atlanta Educators Get Equal Justice Before the Law?
The Atlanta Trial: The Ultimate in Test and Punish
Does spending more on education improve academic achievement?

Staying Young

It's Thanksgiving break and the Little One said "Let's run a mile tomorrow." I was shocked but said yes as I have recently decided to take it easy.  After our run, we were on our way back home and I saw my neighbor. My neighbor Sal is a very interesting man with a lifetime of stories. He loves to talk, or at least when he starts talking to me, the conversation is very interesting. Somehow we got to talking about memories and how he sometimes forget things but remembers things that happened a long time ago so vividly.

He then proceeds to tell me this story. Sal said, "I remember my two little sisters. They would be on the balcony and would pop their faces out and say, 'Salvador, where are you? Where are you?' During WWII in 1943 the Germans bombed Naples and his house was bombed and his sisters did not survive. His mother made it out but she kept calling for her two young daughters. She was in a state of shock for a while. His dad was a Socialist, was arrested and taken to a concentration camp. He survived the concentration camp but he too was never the same. His dad was injured or tortured while he was in the camp and a doctor from Norway befriended him and took care of him. Many years later this doctor was in Italy and Sal's dad recognized the doctor. They were able to talk. His dad told the doctor the story of his sisters and how his mother was suffering and he asked the doctor what could be done for his mother. The doctor suggested that they have another baby. Sal says it worked and he remembers his mother walking around and hugging his little brother." Sal says laughter and being thankful keeps him young even though he forgets. His current doctor reassures him that he's doing well and it's a function of age.

Talking to Sal on this Thanksgiving Eve made me realize that we all have a choice in how we deal with the things that happen to us. Talking to Sal makes me realize that many have dealt with racism and injustice, not just those that are my skin color. I'm not always thankful even though I know I should be. Sometimes I want to have a pity party or believe that there's nothing good happening for me but nothing could be farther from the truth. So thanksgiving eve is a great time to reflect on the goodness of life in spite of all the horrible things that are happening. To realize that the simple pleasures are what makes life worthwhile - fellowshipping with friends and family, being able to enjoy a meal, watching the generations grow and listening to the elders.

I don't have a HouseBeautiful house; but I do have a beautiful heart thanks to the One I serve; hopefully as I interact with others they can see what makes me beautiful.

Have a wonderful thanksgiving and remember to give thanks.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
There's ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

Life is Not a Race

Since I've been on vacation, I've gotten three calls about people dying within the space of a week.

All that sadness, makes me want to appreciate life a little bit more (so I've included a few pictures from my vacation.)

As I was running recently, I got to thinking about life and realized that life is not a race. We hear it so often, but I don't think we stop to think about why.
Life is not a race because:

• A race is a defined distance - whether very long or very short. Because we know this we can adjust our pace accordingly based on where we are. If you're running a marathon, pacing is very important. If you're a sprinter, you run as fast as you can until you reach the finish line. In life we don't know how much time we are allotted, which makes it very difficult to know what pace we should be running at which time.
• A race has other competitors - when competing, we become familiar with the field and gauge ourselves against the others. Our goal is to win or do the best we can. During the race we are competitors, but afterwards we don't have to be. Competition breeds comparison. Since life is not a race, we shouldn't get stuck in comparing ourselves to others.
• You don't always have to stay in your lane - At the start of a distance race, you stay in your lane but for the majority of the race, after the cut over you can run in whatever lane you wish. Sometimes you have to run on the outside to pass people or to avoid others. Sometimes you can pass on the inside. A race is won from all lanes.
• We don't all have to run in the same way - Do you remember Michael Johnson? He had a very unconventional form, yet he was able to break many records.  Many coaches tried to change the way he ran, but he only had great success when he ran the way he was inherently made to run combined with some techniques. There is conventional wisdom and then there's what works for you. 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Life has similarities to a race. With God's help, we can persevere and navigate our way through this life and receive what He has in store for us.   

Beach in the Bahamas

     

Boone Hall, Jamaica

Another Beach in the Bahamas

Hubby & I in Paradise Island, the Bahamas

Notes From My Daughter - Racial Obstacles at College

I had every intention of writing another post, but my daughter shared the following with me.

Please take a moment - 10 mins and watch the embedded video, which speaks volumes.

This is what the Black Students at USC are dealing with right now.  It has been ongoing, but the situation came to a head this past weekend, at the end of a party to celebrate the end of classes.

"This footage takes place blocks away from the original venue. At almost 6 minutes into the video you see footage of a girl being tased multiple times while on the ground screaming for them to stop. You can also see my friend being arrested, he has a fractured wrist. Another person I just found out has a personal account of being beaten by a cop. Witnesses from both parties claim they heard people at Nate's party being called niggers among other things.
Please pray for us all, it's been difficult to study in this atmosphere, especially as many of us know the victims personally. I love you and I'll see you soon."

Here's the link in case you can't start the video -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN-Sz6NKGyI


Will you pray? I'd greatly appreciate it. Please take a moment and leave a comment also.

If you have connections with people that can make a difference, please share this with them also.

Crazy World

We live in a crazy world - yet another senseless act of violence has taken place.

When I think of the shooting at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, I remember a programmer I used to work with who was a Sikh. I  am the kind of person that engages anyone in conversation regardless of skin color, religion, or what ever difference may exist. As it turns out, he was a nice guy, kind of funny actually. I think many never got to know him because of his head wrap. I've realized we're all the same regardless of our outward wrapping. Humans want the same things - to be loved and accepted, to know they're not in this world alone, to have a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with. I love the various dialects I encounter as I talk to different people - I love the broken English, or patois, or having someone explain a proverb that they say in their native tongue. I also remember working with a Russian programmer who thought a "redneck" was a compliment.  After smiling, I explained that it may be considered a derogatory term.

As Christians, we're all supposed to be one in Christ and yet sometimes Christians are the worse offenders of separating by ethnicity or gender. I know I've felt out of place at church many times because I'm the only brown hued person. Crazy enough, while many think they don't judge they're so many automatic assumptions made about me before I open my mouth. When we first got married, we attended a church on the North Shore of Long Island.  You could feel the initial awkwardness when folks first met us- it was as if they'd never met an intact young black family - but then they quickly got over themselves. Once people get to know us, they realize we don't fit their stereotypes. In some ways though, I do fit their stereotype - I like expressive worship, and music with soul - I'm not a fan of these modern day praise and worship songs.

I guess some of these biases show up because everyone at church may not be a believer or they're still wrestling with their demons.

In Christ, we are one. "Under the blessed spirit of Christianity, they have equal rights, equal privileges, and equal blessings; and, let me add, they are equally useful."(Clarke's Commentary on the Bible)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Have you ever felt discriminated at church? Do biases prevent you from interacting with others? Pray about it.

On My Mind

• In the past two days in the LA Times they have been 2 research articles where race is a main factor. To summarize, according to the research - whites are outliving blacks, but the gap is narrowing and black girls don't benefit from exercise as much as their white peers.
• Exercise benefits black girls less than whites, study shows
• Life expectancy gap narrows between blacks, whites

• Last month I read a book called Fast Times in Palestine - I think many of us in this country don't have a true understanding of the Arab/Israeli conflict.  The gripping narrative focuses not only on violence, terror, and social and political upheavals but also on the daily rounds of house parties, concerts, barbecues, weddings, jokes, harvests, and romantic drama that happen in between. Its seamless blend of travelogue, memoir, and narrative journalism ramps the average American up to a sophisticated, multi-faceted understanding of the Israel/Palestine conflict. This book was a personal account of the author's time  in Palestine; I highly recommend it.

• And then this paragraph from the op-ed section in this article today: "Now once again Israel is faced with two options: Continue to exist as a Jewish state while controlling the Palestinians through military force and racist laws, or undertake a deep transformation into a real democracy where Israelis and Palestinians live as equals in a shared state, their shared homeland. For Israelis and Palestinians alike, the latter path promises a bright future."

• Reading the Bible as a family is such a stress reliever. No discussion is necessary, just read a chapter and let it speak to you.

• Some of my best blog posts were never written but left as comments on a provocative post.

• 50 Shades of Grey is all the rage, but I won't be joining the party.  I don't typically judge a book by it's cover, but having read similar types of books in the past, at this stage of the game I'd rather keep my mind pure.

• Don't go through life alone - cling to someone bigger than you - Jesus.

• Finally, today is National Running Day - I hope you got your run in.

• June is Black Music Month - On June 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the month of June as Black Music Month after tireless lobbying from Kenny Gamble of legendary songwriting team Gamble & Huff. Now that's something to celebrate! 

I had to do a brain dump - too much things on my mind. What's on your mind?

Don't Know, Don't Show or Don't Care.......

This statement cemented in my mind why Boyz in the Hood became one of my favorite movies. It was said by Doughboy after his brother was shot in a drive by shooting. The movie takes place in Crenshaw, CA. (Unfortunately this movie spawned a genre of movie that was difficult for me to watch...I couldn't do it).

The truthfulness as it related to the character's situation and the depth of that statement sums up what it means to be marginalized. The official definition is to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group. There are many groups that are marginalized within our society which leads to a lot of the the isms we hate: racism, feminism, sexism, classism, etc.

The movie did not portray my reality but I know enough people who have lived what the movie portrayed and if it’s someone’s experience then it’s valid.

When I did my MS in Education there was a class where we researched the demographics of poverty in our educational system. The case studies were, to put it mildly, discouraging and one of the great thinkers in the field wondered if it was a conspiracy – that a group of people could be so broken by poverty who happen to be primarily Black or Hispanic, who within the educational system (at that point in time) were ignored.

Recently I met a principal at a charter school in Los Angeles. She lives in AZ, but commutes to LA for her job. One of my co-workers asked her why and she said “Racism.” In her experience, because she was female and Black, even though she had all the credentials she could not advance in her field, until she took this current position.

There’s a strain of poverty that when it intersects with race can leave one hopeless and angry as portrayed in the movie. Racism alone can do that to you, but to combine it with poverty or gender can sometimes make one hopeless or do things you normally wouldn't do.

This is why the Bible offers great hope; there’s more to life than this life. Some of us may have material wealth and some of us are scraping to make it from day to day; some of us may have perfect children and some we wonder “Did this child come from me?” Some of us are healthy and some of us are so sick we don’t know if the next breath is our last. Some of us skate through life, and others it seems as if there is always a trial because of our skin color. Life is complicated.

Hope from the Bible
Psalms 9:18 – But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

Psalms 25:5 – Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalms 42:5,11 43:5 – Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Psalms 62:5 – Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalms 130:7 – … put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

I can only get through whatever unfolds in this life because I believe in God. It has been said within every human there is a God shaped void. Let God fill the void and don't become weighed down by racism or any other ism.

Have you ever felt marginalized? How did you deal with it? At what cost racism, or any other ism?

PS - I'm not oversimplifying racism, I know it exists in many forms. I don't believe in the post racial idea - until we get to heaven we'll always be dealing with our differences, race included.